"Heh heh, kid, you expect me to spill all my secrets? I'll tell you just two: the most basic, yet most practical, beginner spells—Spirit Eye Art and Wind Riding Technique."

Nan Tianba let out a sly grin. Though eager to obtain the White Radiance, he was certain Ye Qin would eventually be tempted to learn his spells. Compared to him, Ye Qin was still too green in this game of wits.

"What are these two spells used for?"

"Spirit Eye Art is a comprehensive spell cast upon the eyes. Wherever your gaze falls, you can observe the density of spiritual energy in spiritual objects or the depth of cultivation practitioners' mana. This spell consumes very little mana. Wind Riding Technique is a type of light-body spell, belonging to the wind element. Once cast, you merge with the wind, and your body gradually lightens until you become as swift and nimble as the breeze itself. Once mastered, you can freely manipulate the wind's power; leaping dozens or even hundreds of feet becomes effortless."

"How does this Wind Riding Technique compare to worldly martial arts movement skills?"

"Ha! How can the movement skills of those worldly martial artists even be mentioned in the same breath as our immortal Wind Riding Technique? Don't bring that up again, lest you soil my ears. Both spells are foundational arts best suited for those in the first and second layers of the Qi Refining stage. You've only just entered the second layer; even if I told you higher-level spells, you might not be able to cast them. Learning these two is perfectly appropriate."

Ye Qin mused inwardly. Previously, finding spirit stones relied entirely on his senses to detect the spiritual aura of objects, requiring very close proximity, and even then, the detection wasn't always accurate—it was quite inconvenient. This Spirit Eye Art, which could observe the density of spiritual power, might prove quite helpful if practical.

As for the Wind Riding Technique, although it couldn't be used in direct combat, if he could truly cover dozens of feet in the blink of an eye, that distance was astonishing. It would be excellent for self-preservation.

The two finally reached a compromise: Nan Tianba would trade spells for Ye Qin's White Radiance.

This way, Nan Tianba no longer needed to beg or plead for even a trace of vital energy. Ye Qin also wouldn't feel cheated by having to share some of the White Radiance.

The only remaining point of contention was the exchange rate: how much White Radiance for one spell.

Nan Tianba, leveraging his possession of spells, made an exorbitant demand: one spell in exchange for enough vital energy for him to cultivate to the fourth layer of the Qi Refining stage. Ye Qin certainly wouldn't agree to that; that was a massive amount of vital energy.

Ye Qin alone had spent a full six months cultivating the first layer of his Sitting in Watchfulness and Nothingness technique. As one cultivated to higher realms, the required vital energy surged exponentially. The energy needed to complete the second layer of Qi Refining was double that of the first layer, and reaching the fourth layer required four times the energy of the first. The higher the stage, the harder the cultivation.

Though Ye Qin was a novice, he understood the difficulty of cultivation and would never accept such a disadvantageous deal.

"Old Ghost, I will trade you ten days of White Radiance for one basic spell. Twenty days for two spells—any more is impossible. The specific exchange method will be this: I give you half of the White Radiance generated on the floating island each day. The exchange stops after twenty days. If you want more White Radiance, you must trade other spells."

Nan Tianba asked in surprise, "Just how much White Radiance appears on this island daily? Is there some kind of quantity limit?"

Ye Qin explained briefly, "Of course there's a limit; otherwise, how could I have spent half a year here just to complete the first layer of Qi Refining? However, the amount of White Radiance has greatly increased now; one month’s production is enough vital energy to complete the first layer of Qi Refining."

"What? Enough vital energy in one month to finish the first layer? When I cultivated the first layer, it took me three or four full years! And I only have a single Earth spiritual root! You, with a Five Elements root, cultivate this fast in this treasure land?"

Nan Tianba was so shocked he cried out. Jealousy nearly drove him mad; his eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Ye Qin, as if he wanted to swallow him whole, seize this treasure island, and enjoy the White Radiance alone. Then, he was sure he could break through to the mid-stages of Qi Refining and reach the advanced stages within a few years.

Of course, the above was merely a day dream he indulged in briefly.

If he could have swallowed Ye Qin, he would have done it long ago, not waited for the future.

"Fine. I will trade my two low-grade, basic supplementary spells for twenty days of your White Radiance. That seems fair."

Nan Tianba promptly transmitted the incantations and spell formulae for the Spirit Eye Art and the Wind Riding Technique to Ye Qin. His attitude toward Ye Qin immediately became warmer, and he began trying to forge a closer bond.

"Kid, I’m not one to stick rigidly to formalities. Since I cannot kill you now, I will naturally seek another physical body for reincarnation later. But before that, I want to borrow your White Radiance to improve my cultivation. Once I reach the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Refining, I will find a way to leave this place and stop disturbing your practice. Heh heh, as long as you help me advance my cultivation, I will naturally grant you many benefits. After all, I was once the Patriarch of the Nan Clan; I have thirty or forty more years of cultivation experience than you, don't I?"

Ye Qin inwardly felt utter contempt for Nan Tianba’s sudden warmth.

Regarding Nan Tianba’s assertion that he would leave later, Ye Qin secretly sneered: Does the old ghost think this is his private garden, a place he can enter and exit as he pleases? He probably still hasn't figured out what this Azure Mansion Floating Island truly is!

If he allowed the old ghost to leave alive and find another host with a spiritual root for possession, given the old ghost's terrifying power, would Ye Qin still survive?

The old ghost had mentioned before that the Possession Art only worked on those possessing spiritual roots; it couldn't be used on ordinary mortals, as ordinary people couldn't withstand the powerful primordial spirit energy of an immortal cultivator and would explode to death. The old ghost had languished in the jade pendant for twenty years precisely because he hadn't found a suitable host for possession.

Ye Qin had no desire to let the old ghost leave the Azure Mansion.

While the old ghost posed a certain danger within the mansion, at least he was confined within this void. If he let the old ghost leave, uncontrolled, the harm he might inflict would be far greater.

Ye Qin received the two spell formulae but did not immediately hand over the White Radiance to Nan Tianba. He had to verify that the two spells were effective first; he couldn't trust the old ghost's word.

Nan Tianba cackled sinisterly and flew away, his voice drifting from the distance in the sky.

"Kid, take your time verifying them. I'll go scout around the edges of the floating island and see what else is lurking around this strange place. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some treasure."